Mineski-Dota is the undisputed Kings of SEA
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We’ve seen Mineski-Dota and TNC Pro Team battle it out against each other for countless times, but none of those matches are undeniably more important, and significant, and awaited compared to their do-or-die match at the first lower bracket round of The International 2018, the grandest Dota 2 world championship of the year.
It has become a rivalry in the ever-competitive Dota 2 region, an El Clasico a la Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, or Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, or even Alliance and Natus Vincere. No matter how many times they face each other, you still can’t tell for sure who’s going to win.
At first glance, considering the matchup between Mineski-Dota and TNC Pro Team may be a stretch, especially after the Mushi-led squad claimed Southeast Asia’s first Major tournament at the Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018 while leaving Kuku and his boys struggling to gain the coveted Dota Pro Circuit points. That is until you learn how three of Mineski’s weaknesses—lower bracket, best-of-one elimination matches, and TNC Pro Team—are all combined for their first main event match at The International 2018.
It was only back in May at the MDL Changsha Major, the third to last Major tournament of the Dota Pro Circuit, when Mineski-Dota was finally able to defeat TNC Pro Team in a LAN. They swept the all-Filipino squad, 2-0, at the first round of the upper bracket. However, prior to that meeting, the only two main event matches where both teams needed to face each other were in a best-of-one format. The first one was at the ESL One Genting 2018, and the second one was at The Bucharest Major. Combining those past records with TNC Pro Team’s notorious win rate at do-or-die matches, Mineski’s Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018 title may not really be enough to save them from bidding goodbye at their Aegis of Champions dreams.
The first 45 minutes of their much-awaited match at the grandest Dota 2 stage saw TNC winning all team fights and pushing all outer towers to take control of the entire map. They were holding as much as 17k gold lead, and all that was left for them to do was to siege the high ground and prepare for the Dota Pro Circuit leaders, Virtus.pro, in the next round. Dethroning the Kings of SEA was already within the grasp of their fingertips until two costly team fights opened the comeback window for Mineski.
TNC Pro Team committed only one mistake at their most important bout against Mineski and that’s to let them dictate the phase of the game. Despite their well-rounded draft, outlasting Mineski’s Spectre-centered team composition was arguably futile. The all-Filipino Dota 2 team’s improper utilization of Pugna and failure to capitalize on Mineski’s long ultimate cooldowns sent them packing at 13th-16th place with $124,569 cash prize.
In a post-game interview, Mineski’s position five player, ninjaboogie, opened up how grueling a do-or-die matches usually are, “I mean it’s always tough. An elimination game is always hard, it’s always at the back of your head. You have to trust your teammates, you have to trust each other, and you guys have to make the right play in the game,” Ninjaboogie said in an interview.
Mineski-Dota will be facing Virtus.pro in the next round, and according to ninjaboogie from the same interview, their win against TNC makes them more confident, “everyday from now on is going to be tougher and it sucks that we have to fight Virtus.pro in the second day, but you know, it’s The International,” the lone Filipino player at The International stated.
The Kings of SEA have secured a 9th-12th place finish and $373,707 in cash prize. Their best-of-three elimination match against Virtus.pro will be held tomorrow, August 22, at 10:00 SGT.
